He might be the nephew of Puff, but it seems Mark Gasnier is the Magic Dragon

For the nephew of Puff the Magic Dragon, it seems St George Illawarra superstar Mark Gasnier is the one with all the tricks up his sleeve.

He shocked the Dragons faithful when he left in 2008 to chase riches in French rugby. He surprised them when he returned half-way through 2010 to help the Red V win their first premiership in more than three decades.

But today we saw Gasnier’s most stunning trick yet – the NSW Origin centre announced this season would be his last in the NRL.

At 29 years old, in peak physical fitness, with more than three years and $1 million left on his contract, with rep jerseys being heaped before him, the centre will walk away from the game.

And what’s more, he knew before a ball was kicked in 2011 that he would do so.

The nephew of rugby league Immortal Reg Gasnier, claimed he told Dragons CEO Peter Doust in February of his intention to retire.

“He didn’t think I was serious and laughed it off, but then I rang him a couple of months ago and I said I was fair dinkum and that he should look to spend the extra cash for me on a new player,” Gasnier said.

“I decided earlier on in the year, but finding the right time to announce it was difficult – now is the right time. I was something I considering for a long time.

“It’s a thought process that you want to make sure you’re fair dinkum about it. Sometime your thought processes change with the mood you’re in and you want to make sure you go through the troughs.”

Surprise.

The 2005 and 2006 Dally M centre of the year admitted he didn’t have the mental fortitude to press on beyond 2011.

“Physically I could play on for a couple of years, but mentally I couldn’t,” he said.

Gasnier’s shock announcement has sparked doubts about the Dragons’ ability to contend next year given coach Wayne Bennett and reigning Dally M fullback Darius Boyd are headed to Newcastle.

The former Stade Francais recruit denied Bennett’s departure influenced his decision.

“I would love to be coached by Steve Price here, that didn’t have one once of influence on my decision. But mentally I don’t think I’d be 100 there,” he said.

The likes of Kyle Stanley, Jason Nightingale, Tim Moltzen and Chase Stanley will be in line to replace Gasnier at right centre.

Gasnier has scored 90 tries in 160 games with the joint venture since making his debut in 2000.

He scored the opening try of last year’s drought-breaking grand final win over the Sydney Roosters.

He played 11 times for NSW and 15 Tests for Australia.